Ophtalmoscanning in diagnosis of secondary orbital tumors

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of ophtalmosonography in diagnosis of secondary orbital tumors. Thirty-two patients with secondary orbital cancer were examined. Ultrasound examination revealed anomalous shaped tumors, tumor tissue low echogenicity, uneven echostructure due to the evidence of hyperechogenous sites of pathologic osteogenesis and hypoechogenous sites with cystic component and decomposition cavities. Ophtalmoscanning has the most informative value when primary tumor is located in maxillary sinuses and ethmoidal labyrinth cells because large lesions with involved medial and lateral orbital walls can be well visualized, whereas sonography fails to assess the tumor involvement extent when primary tumor is located in frontal sinuses. Due to high informative value and safety, ophtalmoscanning is recommended as one of the main diagnostic methods for orbital tumor detection.